Seeing an IRCC eligibility review marked as “in progress” can leave you wondering what is happening with your Canadian immigration application. Does it mean you have passed an important stage? What exactly is IRCC reviewing? And what happens once the eligibility assessment is completed?
Eligibility is one of the main areas IRCC may assess while processing an immigration application. In the application status tracker, IRCC lists eligibility separately from medical exams, background verification and biometrics.
Understanding this stage can help you interpret your application status without assuming that an update means your application has already been approved or refused.
An IRCC eligibility review is the assessment of whether you meet the requirements of the immigration program or application you applied under.
The exact requirements depend on your application. A person applying through an economic permanent residence program, for example, will not be assessed against exactly the same criteria as someone applying for a study permit, work permit or family sponsorship.
For permanent residence processing, eligibility assessment and admissibility assessment are distinct parts of the process. Eligibility concerns whether an applicant satisfies the relevant program criteria, while admissibility can involve criminality, security and medical considerations.
This is why eligibility should not be confused with the wider assessment of admissibility. Our guide to how IRCC checks admissibility explains the background-verification stage and what it can mean for an application.
There is no single eligibility checklist that applies to every Canadian immigration application.
IRCC assesses an application against the requirements of the particular program. Depending on the pathway, relevant factors can include qualifications, work experience, education, language ability, family relationships, job-related requirements or other program-specific conditions.
For Express Entry, for example, the system can identify which immigration programs a candidate is eligible for. IRCC states that a program marked “met” means the candidate is eligible for that program.
After an application is submitted, officers assess the information and supporting evidence relevant to the applicable immigration requirements.
No. These are different stages.
Before many applications enter substantive processing, IRCC first checks whether the application is complete. An acknowledgment of receipt is generally issued after IRCC receives the application and checks that it is complete.
A completeness check generally establishes whether the required application material has been submitted so processing can begin. Eligibility assessment goes further by considering whether the applicant meets the relevant program requirements.
Receiving an AOR therefore does not mean that you have passed eligibility.
If the application status tracker shows eligibility as “In progress,” IRCC defines that status simply as meaning it is still reviewing that section of the application.
The tracker can show:
An eligibility review remaining in progress does not, by itself, indicate that IRCC has found a problem.
“Completed” means IRCC has finished reviewing that particular section of your application.
It is important not to interpret this as automatic approval of the entire application.
Other sections may still be under review. The current tracker separately displays eligibility, medical exams, background verification and biometrics. A final decision therefore depends on the requirements that apply to the complete application rather than the status of eligibility alone.
For permanent residence, an applicant may still need to satisfy admissibility requirements before permanent resident status can be granted.
No. Eligibility depends on what you applied for.
For an economic immigration program, the assessment may focus heavily on whether you satisfy that program’s selection requirements. Other applications can involve very different criteria.
For example, eligibility for a work permit may depend on the particular work permit category and the evidence required for it. Family sponsorship applications involve requirements concerning the sponsor and the person being sponsored. Study permit applications have their own requirements.
This is why applicants should follow the official document checklist and instructions for their specific immigration pathway rather than relying on a generic eligibility checklist.
Yes. IRCC may contact you if it needs more information to process your application.
IRCC states that if more information is required, it will contact the applicant by mail, email or through their account.
If this happens, carefully read the request and respond according to the instructions and deadline provided. An IRCC additional document request does not automatically mean your application will be refused. It can simply mean that further evidence or clarification is required before processing can continue.
The status tracker can also show “Waiting on you” when IRCC needs information or documents from the applicant.
If the information provided does not establish that you meet the relevant requirements, it can affect the outcome of the application.
What happens depends on the application and the nature of the concern. IRCC may request further documentation or clarification in some circumstances.
In situations where information could lead to an adverse decision and procedural fairness requirements apply, an applicant may receive a procedural fairness letter giving them an opportunity to address the concern before a decision is made.
Applicants should take any such communication seriously and respond to the specific issues identified rather than submitting unrelated material.
No.
Eligibility is an important part of processing, but it is not the same as a final decision.
For permanent residence applications, the broader process can include both eligibility and admissibility assessments. Admissibility can involve criminality, security and medical considerations.
An applicant could therefore satisfy the program’s eligibility requirements while other parts of the application remain under review.
One of those areas may involve security-related assessment. Our guide to how immigration security checks work explains this part of processing separately from the assessment of whether you meet the requirements of your immigration program.
Applicants should be cautious about assuming that every application moves through visible stages in one fixed sequence.
The tracker separates eligibility, medical exams, background verification and biometrics, and each section can have its own status.
For that reason, seeing one section completed while another remains in progress should not automatically be interpreted as unusual.
The most useful approach is to follow the statuses and messages shown for your own application rather than comparing your sequence of updates with another applicant’s experience.
IRCC does not publish one universal timeframe for eligibility review that applies to every immigration application.
Overall processing times vary according to application type and other factors. IRCC provides a current processing-time tool so applicants can check how long it is taking to process their type of application.
This means an online claim that eligibility always takes a specific number of days or weeks should be treated cautiously.
The eligibility stage can also take longer when additional information or assessment is required.
Because processing information changes, always check the official IRCC website for the latest processing times for your application type.
There are many possible reasons why one application may take longer than another, and a longer review does not automatically mean there is a problem.
The application may require closer assessment of supporting evidence, or IRCC may need additional information before completing the review.
Applicants should also remember that the overall application may contain several sections under review. A period without a visible eligibility update does not necessarily mean nothing is happening with the application.
If IRCC needs something from you, it will normally communicate the request through the appropriate channel. Applicants should therefore monitor their accounts and contact details rather than repeatedly submitting documents that were not requested.
Depending on the type of application, you may be able to check your status through the IRCC application status tracker, Client Application Status tool or your online account.
IRCC explains that the appropriate method depends on what you applied for and, for some applications, how you applied. Online accounts can provide status updates and messages about an application.
In the application status tracker, applicants may see the progress of individual sections, including eligibility.
Updates generally become available after you receive an AOR. IRCC says an AOR is issued after it receives an application, checks that it is complete and begins processing it.
Applicants who want more detail about how their application has been processed sometimes request GCMS notes.
These records may contain case information recorded during processing and can sometimes provide more context than the basic status displayed online.
However, GCMS records should not be treated as a live application tracker. The information you receive reflects records available within the scope and timing of the request, and requesting notes does not guarantee that you will learn exactly when your eligibility review will finish.
In most cases, the appropriate action is straightforward: continue monitoring your application and respond if IRCC contacts you.
You should:
IRCC provides options for applicants to check an application, update information and submit requested documents.
If eligibility is shown as completed, IRCC has finished reviewing that section. Other parts of your application may still need to be processed before a final decision is made.
For permanent residence applications, admissibility assessment can include criminality, security and medical requirements.
The next visible update therefore depends on your application. You may see another section progress, receive a request from IRCC or eventually receive a final decision.
There is no need to assume that a period without a new status means the application has stopped moving.
Applicants cannot control how quickly IRCC assesses an application, but they can avoid creating unnecessary complications.
Common mistakes include:
The most useful approach is to rely on the instructions and status information provided for your own application.
Understanding eligibility is easier when you can see how it fits into the wider Canadian immigration process. These Canada GMC resources can help you explore the stages and possible developments surrounding your application:
It means IRCC is assessing whether you meet the requirements that apply to the immigration program or application you submitted.
IRCC defines “In progress” as meaning it is still reviewing that section of your application. It does not by itself indicate a positive or negative decision.
It means IRCC has finished reviewing the eligibility section of your application. Other sections may still need to be assessed before IRCC makes a final decision
There is no universal timeframe that applies to every eligibility assessment. Overall processing times depend on the application type and circumstances, so applicants should check IRCC’s current processing-time information.
No. Eligibility is only one part of the application process. Other requirements, including admissibility where applicable, may still need to be assessed.
Yes. IRCC may contact you if it requires additional information or documents to continue processing your application.
An IRCC eligibility review is an important stage because it determines whether you meet the requirements of the immigration program or application under which you applied. However, seeing eligibility “in progress” or “completed” should not be interpreted as a final decision on its own.
Monitor your application, keep your information accurate and respond promptly if IRCC requests anything further. Since immigration requirements and procedures can change, always check the latest instructions on the official Government of Canada website.
If you need support understanding your Canadian immigration application or preparing for the next stage, book a consultation with Canada GMC.
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